Suction device for prosthetic limb



1953 J. D. LEAVY 2,834,025

SUCTION DEVICE FOR PROSTHETIC LIMB Filed Dec. 7; 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

JERRY D. LEAVV A, ATTORNE s May 13, 1958 J. D. LEAVY 2,834,025

SUCTION DEVICE- FOR PROSTHETIC LIMB Filed Dec. '7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JERRY D. LEA 1 4 ATTORNEYS United States Patent SUCTION DEVICE F OR PROSTHETIC LIMB Jerry D. Leavy, Campbell, Calif., assignor to A. J. Hosmer Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 7, 1956, Serial No. 627,024

4 Claims. (Cl. 3-17) This invention relates to suction devices for prosthetic limbs in general. More particularly this invention relates to an improved suction device that may be readily disassembled.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved suction device for prosthetic limbs that is constructed in such a way that the working parts thereof may be readily removed therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved suction device for prosthetic limbs that is positive in operation and in which the working parts may be readily locked in place to prevent accidental opening of the device.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an improved suction device for prosthetic limbs which is characterized by its simplicity of construction which enables it to be readily locked in place or unlocked for easy removal of the working parts thereof.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following specification, claims and drawing.

In accordance with this invention there is provided an improved suction device for prosthetic limbs. This device is characterized by simplicity of construction which permits the working parts thereof to be readily unlocked and removed therefrom to provide an opening in the socket portion of the artificial limb through which the sock may be removed when the limb is being placed on. For this purpose the suction control device of this invention is provided with a manual control which is rotatable into locking position where it is held by a spring that also functions to press a resilient disc against a sealing surface of the device. Thus the device may be adjusted to release air from the socket above a certain pressure for the purpose of permitting automatic expulsion of air from the socket. This mechanism also prevents air from entering the socket but if the positive air pressure within the socket reaches an established value as determined by the aforesaid spring, the valve automatically opens.

These and other features of this invention will be set forth in detail in the following specification, claims and drawing in which briefly:

Figs. 1 and 2 are views showing the initial steps in putting on a suction socket leg;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the suction socket with the suction device of this invention in place;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the suction device shown in Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of this suction device;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 4, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawing in detail, in Figures 1 and 2 there are illustrated the initial steps followed in putting on a suction socket leg equipped with the suction device of this invention. First, the individual desiring to apply the suction socket leg places the stockinet it on the stump 2,834,025 Patented May 13,

ice

and this stockinet is provided with a loose depending portion 10a which is not stretched over the stump but hangs therebelow. The socket portion 11 of the artificial limb is then slipped over the stockinet 10; however, before this is done the operating parts of the suction device 13, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, are removed as will be described more fully hereinafter, and an' opening is provided through which the loose and unstretched portion 10a of the stockinet is threaded so that the stockinet may be withdrawn through this opening as shown in Figure 2, after the socket of the artificial limb is in place on the stump.

The device 13 must of course be located on the socket in a position to permit easy removal of the stockinet when the leg is being put on. Furthermore, it must be located so that the inner parts thereof, cannot be contacted by the distal end of the stump. Consequently, the valve or suction device should be positioned on the medial side and below the stump.

The suction device 13 is provided with a casing 14 having a knurled outer surface as shown in Figure 6 so that this casing may be firmly and positively gripped by the wall of the socket 11 in which the device is positioned. The inner portion of the casing 14 is provided with a sealing flange 15 that extends inwardly a slight distance and forms the inner lip of the opening through the casing.

' A resilient Washer 16 of rubber or like material is provided to seat on the inner surface of the flange 15 in seal ing contact therewith. A small washer 17 is positioned on the central part of the washer 16 surrounding a hole formed in said washer in which the screw 18 that is used to fasten the resilient disc to the stud 19 is lodged. This stud is provided with a portion 20 of reduced diameter which fits into the hole formed in the center of the resilient member 16. Furthermore, this portion of reduced diameter is provided with a threaded hole for receiving the screw 18.

Another washer 21 that is made of a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the hole in the casing 14 as defined by the flange 15', is positioned on the opposite side of the resilient member 16 and is also held on the stud 19 by the screw 18. This washer 21 lends the desired amount of rigidity to the resilient member 16 and it also is provided with an upstanding flange that defines a recess or socket for receiving one end of a coil spring 22 which surrounds the body portion of the stud 19. The other end of the spring 22 is. lodged against the bridge member 23 which is provided with a hole 24 in which the stud 19 is positioned. Thus the spring 22 functions to apply pressure between the resilient member 16 and the bridge member 23.

The bridge member 23 is provided with a pair of fingers 26 and 27 which extend therefrom and which enter the casing 14 through the notches 28 and 29, respectively, that are cut into the flange 30 of said casing. Thus the working parts of the valve 13, including the resilient member 16, spring 22, bridge 23 and stud 19 when they are assembled, are placed into the casing 14 of the suction device simply by lining up the fingers 26 and 27 of the bridge 23 with the notches 28 and 29, respectively, of the casing 14. When the bridge 23 is thus lined up, a slight amount of pressure is applied thereto on both sides of the button 25 so that the fingers 26 and 27 are pressed below the flange 30 and then the bridge 23 is rotated about clockwise or counterclockwise so that the fingers 26 and 27 enter the recesses 31 and 32, formed on the inner surface of the flange 30 as shown in Figures 5 and 7. The spring 22 exerts pressure on the bridge 23 and the fingers 26 and 27 are thereby held lodged in these recesses to prevent accidental rotation of said bridge whereby the working parts of the suction device may not be accidentally removed from the casing- On the other hand when it is desired to open the suctiondevice for any reason such as removing the stockinet as described above, this may be done very readily and practically instantaneously. Thus the spring 22' performs a dual function in that it exerts pressure on the bridge member 23 and thereby holds the fingers 26 and 27 thereof in place in the recesses 31 and 32, respectively. On the other :hand,'this spring also exerts pressure on the recessed washer 21 which functions to press the resilient washer 16 against the surface of the flange 15. In this way this device acts also to release excessive positive pressure from the inside of the socket 11 so as to prevent inconvenience from such pressure .to the wearer.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention it will be understood that the invention is capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that-its scope should be limited only by the scope of the claims appendedhereto.

I claim:

1.In.an artificial limb of the type that is provided with a socket portion that is adapted to be pulled over the stockinet covered limb stump of the wearer, said socket portion being provided with a suction controlling .device having an aperture through which the loose end of the stockinet is exposed when the stump is being inserted into the .stocket of the artificial limb, the improvement comprising a:ring-shaped member fixed in said aperture, said ring-shaped member having a seating surface near its inner end, a resilient member engaging said seating surface in sealing relation, said ,ring-shapedmernber having a flange near its .outer end, a rotatable bridge member having fingers adapted to engage said ring-shaped member on inner surfaces of said flange for holding said bridge member in place in said ring-shaped member, means for supporting said resilient member on said bridge member, a spring positioned between said bridge member and said resilient member for pressing said resilient member against said seating surfacewhen said bridge member is iii locked in place, said flange having cut away portions for clearing the fingers of said bridge member so that said bridge member and said resilient member'may be removed from said ring-shaped member when said bridge member is rotated and the fingers thereof are aligned with said cut away portions.

2. In an artificial limb the improvement as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that there are provided recesses on the inner surface of said flange for receiving said fingers and locking said bridge member against accidental rotation and removal from said ringshaped member.

3. In an artificial limb the improvement as set forth in claim 2, further characterized in that there is provided a washer positioned against said resilient member, said washer having a recess for receiving one end of said spring.

4. In an artificial limb the improvementas set forth in claim 3, further characterized in that said bridge member is provided with offset portions near the ends thereof for supporting said fingers, said offset portions being of a length such that said bridge member is exposed on the outside of said ring-shaped member when said fingers are lodged in said recesses so that said exposed surfaces of said bridge member are accessible for application of pressure thereto whereby. said bridge member may be pressed inward against the tension of said spring and said f ngers released from said recesses to permit rotation ,of said bridge to bring said fingers into registry with said cutaway portions when it is desired to remove said bridgeand said resilient member from said ring-shaped member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

